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NetShare Unlikely To Return To App Store, App Approval Process Superficial?

Submitted by Edward Kirk on August 9, 2008 - 4:05pm.
in

It was a little discouraging (but not surprising) when Nullriver's NetShare tethering app was pulled from the App Store once, let alone twice, but their news that they were working with Apple to try to get it back in the App Store was encouraging. Unfortunately it looks like it's chances of making a return are pretty unlikely.

Why the sudden pessimism? Apple recently informed Nullriver CEO Adam Dan that they were reviewing user contracts with providers, including AT&T's, to see if it fits in their contracts, and Wired has received confirmation from AT&T spokesperson Brad Mays that tethering with the iPhone and iPhone 3G is not allowed by their Terms and Conditions:

"Furthermore, plans(unless specifically designated for tethering usage) cannot be used for any applications that tether the device (through use of, including without limitation, connection kits, other phone/PDA-to computer accessories, Bluetooth® or any other wireless technology) to Personal Computers (including without limitation, laptops), or other equipment for any purpose."

Nullriver's app was among a few others to be removed from the store recently, one (BoxOffice) which was removed with little or no explanation to the developer and leaving no noticeable reason for doing so. The other was an absurd app that cost $1000 for a picture and a quote. This has caused Adam Dan to question Apple's approval process.

"From what I can tell their approval process is not very strict at all," Dan said. "It's more technical than content related is what it seems like to us. I think they run it, start it up and if it doesn't crash they approve it. They brainlessly click through, and if there's problems they remove it is what it seems like."

He also added that his experience has changed his opinion of the company.

"They're shooting themselves in the foot these days; they're probably just understaffed," Dan said. "We'll see how it goes. Hopefully they don't get too much of the bad press and it doesn't ruin the iPhone, because I want to develop for it."

[via Wired]

pfff

Submitted by Unregistered (not verified) on August 9, 2008 - 5:37pm.
Just ad this app to Installer 4 or Cydia and send Apple & Steve to f**** them selfs.

p.s. Puppies are cute!

Submitted by JFrappuccino on August 9, 2008 - 7:38pm.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Unregistered View Post
Just ad this app to Installer 4 or Cydia and send Apple & Steve to f**** them selfs.

p.s. Support Georgia! Know, that Russia is the asshole of the world!
In regards to your second comment I suggest you watch what you say I and my whole family is Russian
If you would have been registered Id have hit you with the banstick

Submitted by imagine engine on August 9, 2008 - 9:04pm.
AT&T should not dictate what is allowed in the App Store. Apple own's the rights to the App Store and as such they decide what is best for their customers and shareholders. As a reminder to Apple that AT&T is not the only GSM carrier licensed to sell the iPhone 3G. Canada's Rogers allows tethering on their $30.00 6 GB smartphone data plan which is is allowed for all smartphone including the iPhone 3G. Do what's best for both the customers, shareholders, developers and Apple, not AT&T.

Simple

Submitted by ghp2006 on August 9, 2008 - 11:34pm.
Tethering is at the bottom of my list of importance

BUT

Why not just have the program available for purchase on their site.

Since the file would end with ".ipa", it would be a very simple matter to add it to the Application folder of iTunes and to hell with the Apps store.

Now if only iBlacklist would release a non-jailbroken alternative

ajm

time for tmobile in the us

Submitted by Unregistered (not verified) on August 9, 2008 - 11:47pm.
can't wait to have free competition in the us, AT&T was winning me back, but this move killed that - I will likely only use this app once or twice a year, there is no way I would buy a monthly plan to connect my pc for these rare emergencies! AT&T you really should think your policies through better, the day you loose your iPhone monopoly, you won't have any loyal customers, why not try to win us with customer oriented thinking instead of nickel and dining us to hatred of AT&T!!!!
Apple please make the US iPhone market a competitive one insted of extending AT&T more of a monopolistic advantage that will only hurt US cell options, you have a great phone, with that comes a responsibility to keep it fair, gsm is great for this, but not if AT&T keeps getting exclusive extensions - don't wait for the government to find a need to step in!

Submitted by Unregistered (not verified) on August 11, 2008 - 8:52am.
Quote:
Originally Posted by imagine engine View Post
AT&T should not dictate what is allowed in the App Store. Apple own's the rights to the App Store and as such they decide what is best for their customers and shareholders. As a reminder to Apple that AT&T is not the only GSM carrier licensed to sell the iPhone 3G. Canada's Rogers allows tethering on their $30.00 6 GB smartphone data plan which is is allowed for all smartphone including the iPhone 3G. Do what's best for both the customers, shareholders, developers and Apple, not AT&T.
they aren't... problem is, the application appears to violate the terms of service for iPhone and iPhone 3G. Apple doesn't want computers tethered to either of these devices, I suspect for bandwidth related issues. They would clog the pipe. Its not that they can't, or that they shouldn't. the app permits something that AT&T doesn't allow on their network, and that's why the app disappeared.

Submitted by imagine engine on August 11, 2008 - 9:47am.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Unregistered View Post
they aren't... problem is, the application appears to violate the terms of service for iPhone and iPhone 3G. Apple doesn't want computers tethered to either of these devices, I suspect for bandwidth related issues. They would clog the pipe. Its not that they can't, or that they shouldn't. the app permits something that AT&T doesn't allow on their network, and that's why the app disappeared.
Please read the article again. This isn't Apple wanting to block apps that allow tethering but instead has to do with their concern over how the carriers will feel about allowing their customers to do this. Apple doesn't care how much data the customer uses since they are no longer getting a share on the voice & data plans sold with the iPhone 3G. They sell the hardware at full price to the carrier and it's up to them to find ways to recover revenue with pricing on plans and term commitments. As I already stated there are several GSM carriers licensed to sell the iPhone 3G that allow the data plan to be used for tethering. Rogers in Canada is just one example of a carrier that allows tethering on the iPhone 3G data plan. So for those countries that do allow tethering on the iPhone 3G Apple should at least allow the NetShare app to be sold in their country iTunes App Store. If they don't allow this then the company is going to lose revenue due to developers and their customers will look for alternatives such as jailbreaking the iPhone 3G to use a third party installer (ie: installerapp or cydia). This would then cut out Apple as the middle man which means no profit sharing due to money would go directly to the developer.